Can a 17 year old travel with a 12 year old?

Children ages 15 to 17 can travel as an unaccompanied minor, but it is not required. Children ages 2 to 14 can travel as an accompanied minor with someone 16 years or older.



Yes, a 17-year-old can travel with a 12-year-old on most major airlines in 2026, but the classification of the younger child depends on the specific airline's policy. Most carriers (including Delta, United, and American) consider any passenger age 15 or older to be an "Adult" for ticketing and supervision purposes. Therefore, a 17-year-old is legally allowed to act as the "accompanying adult" for a 12-year-old. On Southwest, specifically, a 12-year-old is considered a "Young Traveler" and can fly alone anyway, so a 17-year-old sibling simply acts as a travel companion rather than a legal guardian. However, for international travel, you must be cautious: many countries require a notarized Letter of Consent signed by the parents of both minors, confirming that they have permission to cross borders together. Without this document, immigration officers in 2026 may flag the duo for suspected runaway or trafficking concerns, potentially delaying your trip significantly.

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Child age at the time of unaccompanied travel Children ages 15-17 are permitted to travel as a standard passenger, Go to footer note, provided they can present a valid ID to security personnel. If parents or guardians prefer, they can also travel as an unaccompanied minor.

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Our Unaccompanied Minor (UMs) procedures do not apply to unaccompanied Passengers ages 12 through 17. A Young Traveler must have the maturity and capability to travel alone, including but not limited to checking in, passing through the security checkpoint, boarding, deplaning, and claiming luggage.

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A child between the ages of 5 to 11 can travel with a passenger 15 or older without Unaccompanied Minor Service Assistance. At drop-off, the parent or responsible adult must submit a completed Request For Unaccompanied Minor form and inform the airline who will be picking up the child at the arrival airport.

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Some airlines permit this for kids as young as 12. When a child has reached this minimum age for traveling alone without unaccompanied-minor procedures, the airline does not require evidence of parental permission to travel alone. If the child has a passport, he or she can even travel internationally.

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Children ages 15 to 17 can travel as an unaccompanied minor, but it is not required. Children ages 2 to 14 can travel as an accompanied minor with someone 16 years or older.

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International travel Some airlines automatically apply the unaccompanied-minor procedures to kids through age 17 on international flights, and charge the standard unaccompanied-minor fee if applicable. Children must usually have the same passport, visa or other international entry documentation required of adults.

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A signed, notarized letter for a minor to travel from both parents is required if a child travels internationally alone or with an adult who is not their legal guardian. The other parent must also sign the consent form if they are traveling with just one parent.

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Passengers over the age of 16 may travel without an adult. Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult. the best seats and in-flight amenities.

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The minimum age for children to travel alone as adults paying adult fares varies: Kids have to be 12 years old to fly alone on domestic flights with Hawaiian, Southwest, Air Canada, and WestJet; 13 years old on Alaska; 14 years old to fly as an adult on JetBlue; and 15 years old on Allegiant, American, Delta, Frontier, ...

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Any persons under 18 travelling without their parents or guardian are required to present an international travel permission declaration form signed by their father, mother or guardian at the check-in desks.

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Children traveling with grandparents, cousins, other relatives, or school groups will need to have a signed document, such as a Child Travel Consent, allowing them to travel without a parent or legal guardian.

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Check the hotel's policy Some hotels may require guests to be at least 18 years old to book a room, while others may allow 17-year-olds to stay with certain conditions. It's always a good idea to reach out to the hotel directly or check their website for specific information regarding age restrictions.

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Planning your trip
  • Infants on lap. Children under two can sit on a parent's lap during flights to any destination.
  • Infant seats. Alternatively, infants can have their own seat if you bring an approved car seat.
  • All other kids. Children older than two will need a ticket and their own seat on the plane.


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A Child Travel Consent Form is required where a minor child under the age of 18 is traveling internationally without both parents present.

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The letter should say I acknowledge that my son/daughter is traveling outside the country with [the name of the adult] with my permission. If one parent has sole custody of the child, a copy of the custody document can take the place of the other parent's letter.

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Yes, absolutely! Traveling around Europe as a 17 year old can be an incredibly rewarding experience. You'll get to explore new cultures, meet interesting people and gain valuable life experiences.

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